The December deer lull is upon usTo say that the December deer lull is upon us would be a gross understatement. The rut is pretty much over and deer sightings are becoming as rare as a Democrat victory this past election cycle. There just aren’t many of them. I have a friend (who will remain nameless for obvious reasons) who would agree that deer sightings are pretty rare. He’s been hunting on 15 different occasions and has yet to see a deer. Yep, I think he is now a candidat...

Sand Lizards share support during lossDARDANELLE — “Remember this,” Sand Lizards head football coach Josh Price told his players after a 17-16 loss to Warren during the semifinals of the 4A State Playoffs on Friday night at Keenan Field. “We fought until the last possession,” Price said to his players during a midfield huddle after the game. “You’ll remember this forever.” The Sand Lizards hung their heads low after the Lumberjacks prevented the team’s first football state champio...

Historic season ends in heartbreakDARDANELLE — The Sand Lizards fell about 70 yards shy of a trip to War Memorial Stadium during Friday’s 17-16 loss to the Warren Lumberjacks in the semifinals of the Class 4A State Playoffs. Dardanelle (13-1) regained possession at its 1-yard line with one time out and 1:15 left to play in the fourth quarter. A field goal was all the Sand Lizards needed to win. Incidentally, missed opportunities in the kicking game was all that cost Dardanelle...

Game and Fish Notebook (Dec. 5, 2014)AGFC’s Centennial photo history book on its way LITTLE ROCK – Covering a hundred years of Arkansas conservation is a daunting task. A new photo book produced by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is crafted to meet this challenge. “A Century of Conservation” is a large format, coffee-table size publication that is on sale to the public through several avenues. Its introductory price is $20. The 180-page book is a completely Arkansas product...

Senators to NFL: Drop 'blackout' rule or we mightWASHINGTON (AP) — Senators from both parties warned the National Football League on Thursday to get rid of a four-decade-old TV "blackout" rule or risk congressional action to restrict the league's lucrative antitrust exemption, which allows NFL teams to negotiate radio and television broadcast rights together. The blackout rule, which bars home games from being televised in a local market if they have not sold out, is unfair to fans who have ...

Arkansas State accepts GoDaddy Bowl invitationJONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State has accepted an invitation to play in the school's fourth straight GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 4. The 7-5 Red Wolves have won the game in each of the last two years. They will face a Mid-American Conference opponent in a game nationally televised by ESPN. The game will mark Arkansas State's 11th bowl game in school history. Led by first-year coach Blake Anderson, Arkansas State earned its fourth-straight winning ...

AP picks Dardanelle over WarrenFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A pair of Class 7A powers will meet for the fourth time in five years in the state championship game on Saturday afternoon. Bentonville and Fayetteville have combined to win the last four Class 7A state championships, and their meeting on Saturday ensures the West will win the title for the 10th straight year. The Tigers (8-4) won the championship last season over Cabot, the only non-West team to interrupt Bentonville...

Arkansas QB Allen recovering and ready for bowlFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema says injured quarterback Brandon Allen feels better and will be "good to go" for a likely bowl game. Allen injured his right hip during the first half of a win over Mississippi on Nov. 22. He missed the second half of that game before returning in a 21-14 loss at Missouri last week — a game in which he was noticeably limping during the second half. The junior had his worst game of the seaso...

RHS swim hosts invitationalThe Russellville Cyclones and Lady Cyclones swim teams began their season on Nov. 22 by hosting the Russellville Invitational at the Clarksville Aquatic Center. Clarksville and Pulaski Academy participated at the meet, which saw about 50 swimmers and two divers in action. The men’s competition was won by Clarksville who scored 311 points. Pulaski Academy scored 218 points to finish in second place while the Cyclones scored 171 points to finish...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

The other side: Warren prepares for DardanelleThe road to a 4A state championship is pretty long for 28 teams every year. They each have to win five games to take home the big wooden trophy. (Two other teams need only win four games.) For many, the less-proverbial road requires a lot of miles to log just to get to the destination — Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. So, Warren doesn’t mind the 570-mile round trip to Shiloh Christian and 328 miles to and from Dardanelle to try and reach t...

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BY I.C. MURRELL, Commercial Sports EditorThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Panthers defeat ApachesPOTTSVILLE — The Clarksville Panthers romped over the Pottsville Apaches on Tuesday inside George Jones Gymnasium. The Panthers beat the Apaches 58-32. “We played really well the first five minutes,” Pottsville head coach Shane Thurman said. “Then we went through a scoring drought, got frustrated and quit doing the things we practice. We have a long way to go as a team, but this group is going to get there.” Pottsville only trailed 17-11 after...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Semis: Sand Lizards brace for WarrenDARDANELLE — Sand Lizards head coach Josh Price knew early in the season he had a good team on his hands, but he had no idea they were good enough to be playing in the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament on Friday at Keenan Field. Price said it didn’t truly dawn on him until after the Sand Lizards beat Nashville 35-19 at Scrapper Stadium on Nov. 28. “Early in the season I thought maybe we were good,” he said. “But you really realize ho...

Fatima Adams tabbed GAC Player of the WeekFor her efforts in leading the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns basketball team to a 5-0 start, junior Fatima Adams has been recognized as this week’s Great American Conference Player of the Week. Adams helped the Golden Suns to a 2-0 week, notching double-doubles in wins over both North Alabama and Oklahoma Christian. The Bryan, Texas native notched 30 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 63 percent from the floor in the Golden Suns’ 79-69 win over Nort...

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ATU Sports InformationThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Wildcats top DoverDOVER — The Hector Lady Wildcats defeated the Dover Lady Pirates in a game held on Nov. 25 inside Pirate Gymnasium. Hector’s Darci Fountain was 6-of-8 from the 3-point line and scored 23 points during the win. Alyssa Millsaps scores 14 points and Laken Stanek scored seven. “We shot the ball extremely well tonight,” Hector head coach Tiffany Phillips said. “I was proud of the way our girls played. I think we have things we need to work on, espe...

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Courier Staff ReportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Adult flag football keeps players playingThe opportunity to play football is limited for most to their youth. Fans of the sport begin flag football during elementary school, move on to tackle in middle school and finish up with their high school football team. When the whistle blows on the final game of your senior year — that’s it. You’re done, unless you’re one of the few able to compete at the college level. Russellville Adult Flag Football aims to change that. The league has been...

Outdoor opportunities fill the holiday seasonThe Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays provide outdoor enthusiasts throughout the natural state with a little extra time to get in some quality hunting and fishing. Gun season for deer always falls during the Thanksgiving holiday, but this year the first modern gun season is closing today as the Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close. Don’t fret though, as many more opportunities are in the very near future! Reports from all across the state i...

Sand Lizards handle Scrappers 35-19NASHVILLE — The Dardanelle Sand Lizards went shopping for a chance to host the Class 4A state semifinals on Black Friday and came away with plenty to be thankful for. The Sand Lizards (13-0) paid the Nashville Scrappers (11-2) five touchdowns for a 35-19 victory. Friday's playoff game at Scrapper Stadium wasn't exactly on sale — Nashville took an early lead, forced two fumbles and battled back into the game late in the fourth quarter. Things l...

Game and Fish Notebook (Nov. 26, 2014)Commission accepts land donations for future Mississippi River access LITTLE ROCK – Commissioners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission last week authorized the agency’s director to accept three donated land parcels, totaling just over three acres, along the Mississippi River in Chicot County. The land is located near the site of the old Greenville Bridge southeast of Lake Village and will be used to construct a boat ramp on the river. Fa...

Ida woman harvests 9-point doe IDA (AP) — A 72-year-old Ida woman who was hunting deer on her property in north-central Arkansas has harvested a 9-point doe. Maxine Byrd was hunting near Ida in Cleburne County when she killed the deer. Her son — Terry Byrd — says he was helping dress the animal when he realized "this deer doesn't have the right parts" to be a buck. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Sonny Thompson confirmed the deer is female. Deer program coordina...

Sand Lizards travel for Round 3DARDANELLE — The Sand Lizards closer-than-usual victory over the Hamburg Lions in the second round of the Class 4A State Playoffs on Nov. 21 at Keenan Field confirmed one thing for Dardanelle head coach Josh Price: “It only gets tougher every week.” When the Sand Lizards travel to Nashville on Friday to take on the Scrappers in Round 3, Price is once again calling it the toughest game his team has faced this season. “They’re big, they fly arou...